[Nailfold capillaroscopy and ankylosing spondylarthritis: incidence of anomalies, but absence of diagnostic and prognostic value]. / Capillaroscopie périunguéale et spondylarthrite ankylosante: fréquence des anomalies, mais absence de valeur diagnostique ou pronostique.

Vascular involvement is seldom reported in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this study, microcirculation was evaluated by nailfold capillaroscopy in 32 defined AS patients compared to a control group (C) of 14 sciatica. Capillary findings were divided into five groups: normal, minor dystrophies, edema, microangiopathy, stagnation. Capillaroscopic abnormalities were more frequent in SA as compared to C, for edema (40% vs 7%) and microangiopathy (15% vs 0%). P = 0.01. There were neither clinical nor biological differences between AS patients with and without microangiopathy. Capillaroscopy abnormalities seem frequent in AS and may be secondary to an immune complex mechanism.

[Analysis of the rebound phenomenon during outflow in plethysmography following programmed venous occlusion]. / Analyse du phénomène de rebond lors de la vidange en pléthysmographie avec occlusion veineuse programmée.

The venous outflow curve obtained using strain gauge plethysmography (Periflow JSI) frequently displays a slope change which modifies the classic exponential pattern: The semi-continuous arterial blood flow measurement together with an ECG-triggered plethysmography let the authors show the arterial origin of this slope change they called "the rebound phenomenon". Venous occlusion induces an ischemia which creates a reactive hyperemia when the venous blood current is let free. All the venous outflow curves stem from both a venous and arterial phenomenon. This latter may sometimes be of importance and has to be considered in plethysmography studies.